Antonia Cruz Rojas celebrates 111 years in Huancayo
Antonia Cruz Rojas, a resident of the Viques district in the Huancayo province of Peru, celebrated her 111th birthday on February 8. Representatives from Pensión 65, a program under the Peruvian Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion, visited the centenarian to mark the milestone. Local community members joined the celebration to honor the longevity of a woman whose life spans more than a century.
Born in 1915, Cruz Rojas continues to live with her daughter, Paulina Romero, who oversees her daily care. During the celebration, which featured a vanilla and chocolate cake, the 111-year-old attributed her longevity to a straightforward philosophy: “I eat healthy and I love much.”
Centenarian relies on traditional Andean ingredients and homemade recipes
The centenarian’s diet remains rooted in the traditional ingredients of the Andean region. According to Romero, her mother’s meals prioritize vegetables, legumes, and cereals, often served as warm, easily consumed dishes. Staples of her daily intake include soups made from wheat and morón, a type of pearl barley, as well as pea cream, pumpkin chupe, and olluco, a native Andean tuber. She avoids strict diets and sophisticated culinary preparations in favor of natural products and homemade recipes.
Cruz Rojas also regularly consumes a traditional drink known as “seven seeds,” a mixture containing grains and cereals such as quinoa, barley, kiwicha, and cañihua. These ingredients are recognized for providing fiber, plant-based proteins, and minerals. Romero noted that her mother prefers broths because they feel light and provide sustained energy throughout the day.
Beyond her dietary habits, her daily life is characterized by a consistent, quiet routine. She frequently spends time sitting in a chair near the entrance of her home, where she watches the sunset and observes the activity in her neighborhood. Maintaining connections with family and local residents remains a central part of her life in Viques.
Longevity factors in centenarians
While Cruz Rojas’s diet is rich in nutrient-dense Andean staples, longevity also depends on genetic, environmental, and other everyday lifestyle factors. There is no evidence that any single food or specific dietary pattern, by itself, guarantees an exceptionally long life span. Surviving beyond the age of 100 is an extraordinary event, and sustaining lifelong customs at this age is considered even more remarkable.
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